Panel 6: T-RFLP, ascomycetes

We have monitored fungal diversity by identifying the ascospores produced (direct microscopy; Panel 5). To more thoroughly test for the presence of cryptically active species, we applied ascomycete-specific PCR/T-RFLP (rDNA/ITS). Ground-truthing was based on pure cultures obtained from ascospores ejected from standing-decaying blades of smooth cordgrass (two examples are shown below).

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